"She''spletely unhinged," Kieran went on, rubbing a hand over his face.


    "Whatever she was before-this is worse. She''s not thinking strategically anymore. She''s obsessed."


    My wolf stirred, a low, furious presence beneath my skin.


    "Where is she?" I asked.


    Kieran shook his head. "Gone. She left Pine Ridge several days ago. Took what she could carry and disappeared."


    My chest tightened. "Gone where?"


    He hesitated, then met my eyes. "Toward the roguends."


    The room seemed to darken.


    "Are you certain?" I asked.


    "Yes," he said. "My people tracked her scent as far as they could. After that... it vanishes. Like she knew how to cover her trail. Or had help.”


    That was worse.


    Ellie''s visions shed through my mind-shadows, hunger, obsession mistaken for devotion. The rogue''s ravings. The warnings.


    Children of the storm.


    Blood follows the castaway.


    "You need to understand something," Kieran said quietly. "If she''s heading into the rogue territories willingly, it means she''s not afraid anymore. And Felicity being afraid was the only thing keeping her predictable. I sent her away because she was talking about the twins like they were leverage, like she could use them to control you. She has no limits anymore, Nn. She''s gone mad."


    I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to remain still.


    "You''re telling me this now,” I said, “because of ric."


    His shoulders tensed. He didn''t need to tell me that ric had paid him a visit. I could piece it together. Cassian had been concerned when ric took longer than necessary to reach Moonstone, so I knew he''d made a stop of


    some kind.


    If he suspected that Kieran was in any way rted to what had happened to Ellie, then it made sense that ric would deliver a warning of his own. A thorough one, judging by the state Kieran was in.


    Kieran''s shoulders slumped. "Yes."


    He looked genuinely shaken at the mention of Ellie''s father, like the encounter had stripped something


    essential from him.


    "He told me to fix this," Kieran said. "And he meant it."


    I stepped closer, my presence filling the space between us.


    "This isn''t something you fix," I said quietly. "It''s something you survive."


    He nodded once. "I know."


    For a moment, neither of us spoke.


    Then he straightened, some fragment of resolve settling into ce.


    "I''ll give you everything," he said. "Names. Safe houses. Financial routes. Anyone who so much as looked at her sideways while she was under my protection. I won''t shield anyone- myself included."


    I searched his face, looking for deception, for any inkling that he had an ulterior motive.


    I found none.


    "Why?" I asked. "Whye here, knowing what this could cost you?"


    Kieran swallowed. "Because she crossed a line I didn''t think existed anymore." His voice dropped. “And because you stepped away from power to protect your family."


    I said nothing.


    "That mattered," he added. "More than you know. It doesn''t change how I feel about you,” he added hastily. You''re a violent, arrogant bastard. But when ites to Ellie and the twins, at least I know that you have your priorities straight."


    I held his gaze for a long moment, then nodded once.


    "You''ll cooperate fully,” I said. “You''ll keep your people avable. And you''ll stay where I can find you."


    "Yes," he said immediately.


    ((


    "If shees back into your orbit," I continued, "you inform me first. Not your advisors. Not the council. Me."


    "Agreed."


    I turned toward the door.


    "Nn," Kieran said suddenly. "I know you don''t owe me anything. But for what it''s worth-I am sorry. If I had known..."


    He let the sentence die. He didn''t have to finish it. This was my fault, at least in part. I''d shielded Felicity from the full consequences of her actions, and in doing so, I''d allowed her to continue down this path.


    Kieran was a bastard for using her to further his goals, but he wasn''tpletely to me for trusting her.


    I knew better than anyone exactly how convincing Felicity could be when she


    whispered her lies into your ear.


    I paused, then looked back at him.


    “Be useful,” I said. "That''s the only apology that matters now."


    I left him standing there, alone with the consequences of his choices.


    As I walked down the corridor, my wolf surged closer to the surface, restless and enraged.


    Felicity was no longer hiding.


    She was moving.


    And whatever storm wasing, she had just stepped directly into its path.